So many bugs, Windows 8, Calibre v0.9.18 or Unique to my Computer?

[tashfin64]

Hi! First off I'd like to say hats off to Kovid Goyal for making Calibre, which I'm an avid user of. For the longest time I didn't update (because for me Calibre was flawless, why update?) but then I saw 0.9.18 and realized I probably should upgrade. So I went about and downloaded the installer for the newest version of calibre.

Already I encounter my first problem. Just after installation completes, in a dialog box a message pops up: "There is a problem with the Windows Installer Package. A DLL required for this install to complete could not be run. Contact your support personel or package vendor"

I'm not sure what to make of it.

I'm running Windows 8 Pro 64-bit and had downloaded the 32-bit installer. It obviously made sense to me to uninstall the 32-bit calibre and install the 64-bit calibre, which I did with the exact same error. Next I tried uninstalling, rebooting my computer, and then reinstalling the 32 and 64-bit ones. At that stage I realized it 32-bit and 64-bit didn't affect the problem.

Later I discovered that Calibre still runs, but the amount of errors it runs on is driving me nuts.

While trying to view a book, this is the error:

Spoiler:

calibre, version 0.9.18
ERROR: Could not open ebook: [Error 5] Access is denied: u'C:\\Users\\Tashfin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibr e_0.9.18_tmp_8so6du\\xnwmcj_ebook_iter'

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\viewer\main.py", line 40, in run
File "threading.py", line 504, in run
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\oeb\iterator\book.py", line 99, in __enter__
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\conversion.py", line 234, in __call__
File "site-packages\calibre\__init__.py", line 437, in __enter__
WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied: u'C:\\Users\\Tashfin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibr e_0.9.18_tmp_8so6du\\xnwmcj_ebook_iter'

I'm not sure what to make of it.

So I quit trying to read it. Next I tried converting a book for a friend who wanted to read it, from epub to epub and from epub to mobi, and the same error occurs:

Spoiler:

calibre, version 0.9.18 (win32, isfrozen: True)
Conversion Error: Failed: Convert book 1 of 1 (All He Ever Desired)

Convert book 1 of 1 (All He Ever Desired)
Qt: Untested Windows version 6.2 detected!
Resolved conversion options
calibre version: 0.9.18
{'asciiize': False,
'author_sort': None,
'authors': None,
'base_font_size': 0.0,
'book_producer': None,
'change_justification': u'original',
'chapter': u"//*[((name()='h1' or name()='h2') and re:test(., '\\s*((chapter|book|section|part)\\s+)|((prolog|pr ologue|epilogue)(\\s+|$))', 'i')) or @class = 'chapter']",
'chapter_mark': u'pagebreak',
'comments': None,
'cover': u'C:\\Users\\Tashfin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibr e_0.9.18_tmp_8xrayp\\oluqkn.jpeg',
'debug_pipeline': None,
'dehyphenate': True,
'delete_blank_paragraphs': True,
'disable_font_rescaling': False,
'dont_split_on_page_breaks': False,
'duplicate_links_in_toc': False,
'embed_font_family': None,
'enable_heuristics': False,
'epub_flatten': False,
'extra_css': None,
'extract_to': None,
'filter_css': u'',
'fix_indents': True,
'flow_size': 260,
'font_size_mapping': None,
'format_scene_breaks': True,
'html_unwrap_factor': 0.4,
'input_encoding': None,
'input_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.InputProfile object at 0x03EC50D0>,
'insert_blank_line': False,
'insert_blank_line_size': 0.5,
'insert_metadata': False,
'isbn': None,
'italicize_common_cases': True,
'keep_ligatures': False,
'language': None,
'level1_toc': None,
'level2_toc': None,
'level3_toc': None,
'line_height': 0.0,
'linearize_tables': False,
'margin_bottom': 5.0,
'margin_left': 5.0,
'margin_right': 5.0,
'margin_top': 5.0,
'markup_chapter_headings': True,
'max_toc_links': 50,
'minimum_line_height': 120.0,
'no_chapters_in_toc': False,
'no_default_epub_cover': False,
'no_inline_navbars': False,
'no_svg_cover': False,
'output_profile': <calibre.customize.profiles.iPadOutput object at 0x03EC5370>,
'page_breaks_before': u'/',
'prefer_metadata_cover': False,
'preserve_cover_aspect_ratio': False,
'pretty_print': True,
'pubdate': None,
'publisher': None,
'rating': None,
'read_metadata_from_opf': u'C:\\Users\\Tashfin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibr e_0.9.18_tmp_8xrayp\\_bh6ba.opf',
'remove_fake_margins': True,
'remove_first_image': False,
'remove_paragraph_spacing': False,
'remove_paragraph_spacing_indent_size': 1.5,
'renumber_headings': True,
'replace_scene_breaks': u'',
'search_replace': '[]',
'series': None,
'series_index': None,
'smarten_punctuation': False,
'sr1_replace': None,
'sr1_search': None,
'sr2_replace': None,
'sr2_search': None,
'sr3_replace': None,
'sr3_search': None,
'start_reading_at': None,
'subset_embedded_fonts': False,
'tags': None,
'timestamp': None,
'title': None,
'title_sort': None,
'toc_filter': None,
'toc_threshold': 6,
'unsmarten_punctuation': False,
'unwrap_lines': True,
'use_auto_toc': False,
'verbose': 2}
InputFormatPlugin: EPUB Input running
on C:\Users\Tashfin\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_0.9.18 _tmp_8xrayp\bjiiwr.epub
Python function terminated unexpectedly
[Error 5] Access is denied: u'C:\\Users\\Tashfin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibr e_0.9.18_tmp_8xrayp\\iux_nh_plumber' (Error Code: 1)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site.py", line 132, in main
File "site.py", line 109, in run_entry_point
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\worker.py", line 189, in main
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py", line 31, in gui_convert_override
File "site-packages\calibre\gui2\convert\gui_conversion.py", line 25, in gui_convert
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\conversion\plumber.py", line 1009, in run
File "site-packages\calibre\customize\conversion.py", line 234, in __call__
File "site-packages\calibre\__init__.py", line 437, in __enter__
WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied: u'C:\\Users\\Tashfin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibr e_0.9.18_tmp_8xrayp\\iux_nh_plumber'

I'm not sure what to make of it. This error occurs in any instance of converting, for ANY book. All DRM free.

Afterwards, I tried retrieving a metadata and book covers for the same book. This error occured with the other books too, once again, DRM free. The error is that metadata would fetch fine (even if it did take a bit longer than usual), but the cover art wouldn't come up at all. This is what I get:

Spoiler:

calibre, version 0.9.18
ERROR: Download failed: Failed to download any covers, click "Show details" for details.

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "site-packages\calibre\utils\ipc\simple_worker.py", line 210, in main
File "site-packages\calibre\ebooks\metadata\sources\worker.py ", line 108, in single_covers
WindowsError: [Error 5] Access is denied: u'C:\\Users\\Tashfin\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\calibr e_0.9.18_tmp_8xrayp\\ewhgmh_single_metadata_downlo ad'

I'm not sure what to make of it. And at this point, I'm angry and determined to solve this problem.

The rest of the features seem to be working (i.e. adding books, retrieving metadata, saving to disk, it's only the few up there [the ones that I happen to use the most] that are causing problems).

So these are the steps I took to try to solve it:

Spoiler:

1. I cleaned up my local drive using CCleaner (by Piriform), no luck.

2. I installed Calibre portable. The windows installation error left, but the convert and cover art error was persistent which baffled me.

3. I downgrade to v0.9.17, same error.

4. I tried installing calibre at a different place but it wouldn't allow me, I got this error: "Install Calibre on the local hard drive", or something like that. The thing is, I was installing it on my local hard drive (C, but the error was persistent. So was I.

5. I opened calibre and then went to the place where calibre stored it's temporary files. There were different folders, one that popped up each time it executed an action. Like there was one when I tried converting. One when I tried retrieving book data. One when I tried viewing a book. Stuff like that. I proceded to change all the folder attributes. I noticed that they were Read-Only (but to specific files and folders), so I made them all fully read-only. One time, it had worked and then it stopped working the next time I launched calibre and tried converting again.

6. I uninstalled callibre, went to the app data folder, went to roaming and deleted all of calibre's stuff. Then I went to local, temp, and then deleted all of calibre's stuff there. Then I went and redownloaded calibre (in fact, I've redownloaded calibre 4 or 5 times), and the same issues are there.

7. It's not a virus, I just did a complete virus scan using avast, and windows defender is off.

8. In windows firewall, calibre is not blocked, and I have given it further permissions of everything.

9. I cleaned my registry for any errors, no good.

10. I've read other threads, and they haven't been of much help.

IDK what I should do. Is it Calibre? Windows? Or some third-party issue?

I'm great with computers. Throw any computer lingo you got at me, I'll understand. Any help/insight on the situation is welcome If you've read and considered this thread up to now then

[Shack70]

No problems with it running on Windows 7. I'm going to guess it's a Windows 8 thing as it's a new OS and more designed for a tablet than a PC.

[AnotherCat]

Calibre 32 bit and 64 bit versions both work fine on both 32 bit and 64 bit machines with Windows 8. Despite the "guess" made in the previous post, Windows 8 OS is pretty much the same for desktop applications as Windows 7 i.e. it is definitely not "more designed for a tablet than a PC".

I cannot comment on any issues that may be arising from Calibre itself as I am just not familiar with in any way other than as a user. But looking from the OS side (of which I am no great wiz at either ), should the issue lie there, my first shot from the error log is that you have a permissions problem.

Each time Calibre is run it constructs a temporary folder with name of format C:\Users\Tashfin\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_0.9.18 _tmp_* (where * is random alpha/numeric) - it should be automatically deleted again when Calibre is closed and it appears that Calibre may be having difficulties putting its temporary session files into that folder.

I would first check to see that that folder is being deleted automatically each time Calibre is closed - if not manually delete it with Calibre closed and see if that solves the problem.

If not then check that for that folder, when it is created during a Calibre session, you (as user) and SYSTEM should have Full Control, and that should be so for all its subfolders and files as well (under Advanced in the Security tab of the folder's properties).

However, I qualify that by if permissions are the problem, then I would have expected that you may have had similar issues with other applications that use the ...\Temp subfolder as its permissions of full control should propagate to its subfolders.

[JSWolf]

The problem is not with Calibre but with either Windows 8 and/or you account. Calibre is unable to write to the directory it created in you temp directory.

Try the following, right click the Calibre icon and select run as administrator. That should solve the problem until you find out the cause.

[theducks]

Since Calibre runs well on:
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows Seven

You should blame Microsoft

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by theducks

Since Calibre runs well on:
Windows XP
Windows Vista
Windows Seven

You should blame Microsoft

: I've installed Calibre on 6 Windows 8 systems this year. It works fine on all of them, just one difference - its noticeably faster -- but so is everything else. So I suggest we blame the weather, the lunar new year, or the Euro

My moneys on it being a permissions issue as suggested by AnotherCat

I had a raft of permissions issues when I went from XP to Win7 - my fault, didn't RTFM.

Tashfin64 - this may be of assistance - How to "Take Ownership" of a File, Folder, Drive, or Registry Key in Windows 8

BR

[madelonw]

I'm running the 64-bit version on Windows 7 with no problems.

[tashfin64]

Hey, thanks to everybody who posted and suggested help. I've been running calibre on Windows 8 for over a month with no problem, but the problem was with my account as JSWolf suggested. I had done everything AnotherCat had said, to no avail but turns out the solution was far simpler. I just had to edit the calibre shortcut in the Start Menu Program directory, and set it to "run as administrator".
Thanks everybody for the support!

P.S. Feel so foolish now >.<

[theducks]

Originally Posted by tashfin64

Hey, thanks to everybody who posted and suggested help. I've been running calibre on Windows 8 for over a month with no problem, but the problem was with my account as JSWolf suggested. I had done everything AnotherCat had said, to no avail but turns out the solution was far simpler. I just had to edit the calibre shortcut in the Start Menu Program directory, and set it to "run as administrator".
Thanks everybody for the support!

P.S. Feel so foolish now >.<

May we ask 'with what rights is your user account set' ? I can see Admin rights needed to install (at least for 'All Users'), but should not be needed to RUN

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

Each time Calibre is run it constructs a temporary folder with name of format C:\Users\Tashfin\AppData\Local\Temp\calibre_0.9.18 _tmp_* (where * is random alpha/numeric) - it should be automatically deleted again when Calibre is closed and it appears that Calibre may be having difficulties putting its temporary session files into that folder.

I would first check to see that that folder is being deleted automatically each time Calibre is closed - if not manually delete it with Calibre closed and see if that solves the problem.

For curiosities sake I just checked my Temp folder. It appears that since at least 0.9.17 Calibre has not always been deleting its tmp sub-folders

calibre_0.9.17_tmp_7yz2_5
calibre_0.9.17_tmp_k1jkyt
calibre_0.9.18_tmp_j0kcpa
calibre_0.9.18_tmp_tacdlk
calibre_0.9.19_tmp_myv1cf

I started Calibre - the suffix on the last one changed and when I closed Calibre the folder went away.

I suspect that they don't get removed after updating a plugin and doing a Restart Now. Last thing I did was to install the new version of the Modify Plugin. I'll try to remember to check next time I update a plugin.

Its not due to Calibre or system crashes. Calibre has never crashed since I starting using it about 18 months ago. My last system crash was Sept 14 2008 on XP, and I always close ALL applications gracefully prior to a system shut-down or restart.

I deleted all the old ones; Calibre didn't throw an exception - whew!

BTW : I run Disk Clean about once a month. So, I wouldn't take much notice of the 'since at least 0.9.17' phrase.

BR

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I suspect that they don't get removed after updating a plugin and doing a Restart Now. Last thing I did was to install the new version of the Modify Plugin. I'll try to remember to check next time I update a plugin.

Something like that

I just added another value to a 'Text, but with a fixed set set of permitted values' Custom Column - when I did the Apply, I had to do a restart to get the changes to become effective (I'm cool with that) - after which I had two Calibre tmp folders.

calibre_0.9.19_tmp_s2ux64
calibre_0.9.19_tmp_xvjwas

The second one went away when I closed Calibre

I'll post a defect report

BR

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Something like that

I just added another value to a 'Text, but with a fixed set set of permitted values' Custom Column - when I did the Apply, I had to do a restart to get the changes to become effective (I'm cool with that) - after which I had two Calibre tmp folders.

calibre_0.9.19_tmp_s2ux64
calibre_0.9.19_tmp_xvjwas

The second one went away when I closed Calibre

I'll post a defect report

BR

That is interesting.

Before my post above I had checked the Temp folder contents as I had wondered if there was a problem there, but in my case it was empty and during several test sessions of Calbre it cleared itself each time on close.

There had been some relatively recent plugin updates but I don't recall what ones and whether a restart was prompted or not.

Anyway, I can't check this further for myself as I am away sailing for another 3 weeks , but will be interested in the outcome.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

Anyway, I can't check this further for myself as I am away sailing for another 3 weeks , but will be interested in the outcome.

Racing or cruising?

I figured it out (after reporting it as a bug)

It only occurs when whizz-bangs are doing their 'on start up' housekeeping tasks. The tasks run concurrently at low priority - collectively they take 10-20 mins to run. Once they're done everything is rosy. Whizz-bangs like RAID integrity check, Save Restore Point, refresh Locate32 & Content Indices, Malware scan, software update searching etc. Not sure which one's the culprit, but nor do I care, end-of-month Disk Cleanup will take care of them.

I only looked out of curiosity - oh, no, not another cat joke.

Thanks BR

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Racing or cruising?...

Cruising and fishin'... . John